KABANATA 004

THIRD PERSON POINT OF VIEW

As Eris’ eyes fluttered open, her gaze swept across the room, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. Her vision adjusted to the brightness, and she became aware of the sterile environment that enveloped her. She shifted her gaze to her hand and noticed the clear plastic tubing leading to a bag of fluid.

“I’m glad you’re finally awake. You’ve been receiving IV fluids and medications to support your body’s needs while you were comatose for four months. It’s a standard procedure to ensure your well-being and aid in your recovery.” Paliwanag ng doctor na nakatayo sa gilid niya. 

Napatingin siya doctor at hindi pa din makapagsalita, pilit niyang inaalala ang nangyari sa kanya.

The doctor gently placed a hand on Eris’ arm, his touch conveying both care and professionalism. “I’m going to check your condition and monitor your vital signs.” Sabi nito. “I just want to ensure that you’re stable and responding well to being awake.” With a stethoscope draped around his neck, the doctor began the examination.

Walang kibo si Eris. Ang huling naalala niya ay sumabog ang kotseng sinasakyan niya papuntang airport. Papanong buhay pa siya hanggang ngayon? Possible bang panaginip lang ang lahat ng iyon? Pero ang labo, lalo na’t nandito siya ngayon sa hospital.

“Take a deep breath,” utos ng doctor at kaagad naman niya itong sinunod.

The doctor was busy assessing her when a man in his late twenties suddenly burst into the room. He was dressed in a sharp, tailored formal suit, the fabric clinging to his athletic frame. His dark hair was neatly styled, and a hint of stubble adorned his chiseled jawline.

He's Aaron Wilde, a bachelor billionaire and second son of a prestigious third-generation family. He’s a renowned in the business world for his shrewd acumen and relentless drive. Aaron was force to be reckoned with, his name synonymous with ambition, achievement, and the pursuit of greatness.

“I’ve been so worried about you,” his eyes, a striking shade of brown, were filled with a mix of concern and relief.

Napakunot ang noo ni Eris sa lalaking kadarating lang. Hindi pamilyar sa kanya ang mukha nito. “Who are you?” malamig na tanong niya.

“I-I’ll explain everything to you later. Let’s wait for grandma to arrive.” Umiwas ng tingin ang lalaki dahilan para ibaling din ni Eris ang tingin niya sa bintana.

‘Grandma?’ isip ni Eris. Her grandma died when she was seven years old, so what he was saying doesn’t make any sense. Ang tanging pamilya na natira sa kanya ay itinakwil siya, kaya malabong maging kapamilya niya ang lalaking ito.

Muli na naman siyang nalungkot sa nangyari sa kanya. How unfortunate she was to experience all of those things at once. First, her husband divorced her. Second, her family disowned her. Lastly, she almost got killed because of car accident that happened four months ago. Kung sakali man na namatay siya, madadamay ang anak na nasa sinapupunan—

“What about my baby?” napatanong siya sa doctor nang malaman niyang nagbubuntis pala siya noong maaksidente siya. “My baby is still alive, right?” ulit niya, umaasang walang masamang nangyari sa anak niya.

Saglit na napatigil ang doctor sa ginagawa saka huminga ng malalim. “I’m sorry, but the baby didn’t survive—”

“NO! Nagsisinungaling ka lang,” naiiling na sambit ni Eris. “Hindi pwedeng mawala sakin ang baby ko.” Nagpakawala siya ng malakas na hagulhol dahilan para mapayakap sa kanya si Aaron. “Yung baby ko…”

“We’ve done everything to save the baby, but—” sinenyasan ni Aaron ang doctor na tumigil at iwanan na lang muna silang dalawa. Naintindihan naman ng doctor ang nais niya, kaya kaagad itong lumabas ng kwarto at iniwan sila.

Tanging hagulhol ng pag-iyak ni Eris ang maririnig sa bawat sulok ng kwarto. Walang ibang magawa si Aaron kundi ang tapikin ang likod ni Eris habang pinapatahan. Hindi siya sanay sa mga ganito dahil hindi niya naman ugali ang magpatahan ng kung sino. We cannot blame him.

“How’s my granddaughter? Where is she?” biglang bumukas ang pinto at inuluwa nito ang isang matandang babae na nasa 60s ang edad. May mga kasama itong men in black na nagpaiwan din sa labas ng kwarto. Dumiretso siya sa gawi nila Aaron at nilapitan si Eris. “Pinaiyak mo ba ‘tong pinsan mo?” mabilis pa sa alas kwatrong ginawaran ng matanda ng malakas na batok si Aaron.

“That hurts! Were you trying to kill your grandson?” Aaron hissed in annoyance. “It was the doctor who made her cry. Stop giving me that look.” He clarified just so he could get rid of his grandma’s glare.

“Were you the one who save me from the verge of death?”

Tumango ang matanda.

“But why?”

Wala nang saysay na mabuhay pa siya pagkatapos niyang mabalitaan na wala na ang baby niya. Magkahalong hinanakit at pagsisisi ang nararamdaman niya ngayon. Hindi mapigilang itanong sa sarili kung bakit kailangan pang madamay ng anak niya sa lahat ng kamalasang nangyayari ngayon sa buhay niya.

“Because we’ve been searching for you for decades, at hindi ako papayag na mawala ka kaagad gayong nakita ka na namin—”

“Hindi ko kayo kilala, so why would you look for me?” inis na tinanggal ni Eris ang IV na nasa kamay niya na kaagad namang inawat ni Aaron. “Bitiwan mo ‘ko!” hiyaw niya at tinuloy pa din ang ginawa.

Awang awa ang matanda sa nakikita niya ngayon. Hindi maipagkakailang nasasaktan pa din ang kanyang apo dahil sa sinapit niya.

“You’re not yet fully healed, kaya tigilan mo ang ginagawa mo!” pasigaw na utos ni Aaron. “Where do you think are you going?” sunod niyang tanong nang makitang tumayo si Eris at tinungo ang pinto.

“Why would I tell you? It’s none of your business—”

“If you’re planning to go and see your family, huwag mo na ituloy ang binabalak mo.” Aaron warned her, making her stop for a minute. “They thought, you’re dead and they didn’t even mourn for your death, so why bother seeing them now?”

Natuod si Eris sa kinatatayuan niya at nagsisimula na namang magbadya ang kaniyang mga luha. “H-Hindi ‘yan totoo!” nagmamatigas pa din siya at tinuloy ang binabalak na pag-alis.

Alam niyang possibleng totoo ang sinasabi ng lalaki sa kanya dahil kahit na noong buhay pa siya ay parang patay na din ang trato nila sa kanya. Despite receiving that kind of treatment from her so-called family, she still was expecting na malulungkot sila oras na malaman nilang wala na siya.

Sumakay siya ng elevator at pinindot ang ground floor. Nakasuot pa din siya ng hospital gown kung kaya’t pinagtitinginan siya ng mga taong nakasabay niya sa elevator. But she couldn’t care less.

Nang marating niya ang ground floor ng hospital, iginala niya ang kanyang paningin para makita ang exit, and she finally saw it, hindi na siya nag-aksaya pa ng panahon at tinungo ito. Ngunit habang naglalakad, nang mapadaan siya sa lobby ng hospital, biglang naagaw ang atensyon niya ng isang balita na pinapalabas sa telebisyon.

“Wedding of the century?” mahina niyang binasa ang nasa balita saka napahinto sa paglalakad.

Naiiling na tinitigan niya ang nasa balita habang nakakuyom ang mga kamao. Unti-unting namumuo ang mga galit sa kanyang mga mata nang makita ang masayang litrato ng bagong kasal.

“How could you live happily while I was left to suffer in misery?” she clenched her jaw, gnashing her teeth in anger “My baby was killed, kaya bawal kang maging masaya, Blaze.”